Five years ago today, President Obama signed into law the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which brought about major changes to help transitioning Servicemembers acquire the training and skills they need to seamlessly integrate into the civilian economy.

President Obama greets members of the audience following his remarks on Veterans at Fire Station 5 in Arlington, Va., Feb. 3, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On the fifth anniversary of the signing of the law, we pause to reflect on the progress the administration has made to promote the economic opportunity of our Servicemembers and Veterans.

In 2011, faced with Veteran unemployment rates that remained high following the Great Recession and a national need for more entrepreneurs and skilled workers, the president signed the VOW Act, which mandated that the Department of Labor (DOL) study the skills that Service members learn in the military and improve the translation of those skills into civilian-sector certifications. The act also authorized VA to provide eligible Veterans with up to one year of additional Montgomery GI Bill benefits, to extend vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits for 12 months for eligible Veterans, and to expand the Special Incentive Program to employers who hire and provide on-the-job training for eligible Veterans.

At the same time, the administration brought together a diverse group of government partners charged with redesigning the decades old Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to ensure separating Servicemembers are prepared for educational advancement and meaningful career opportunities after transitioning into civilian life.

Together, the Departments of Defense (DoD), Education, Labor and VA, as well as the Office of Personnel Management and the Small Business Administration, and others, oversaw the creation and implementation of a framework to instruct, gauge and enhance Servicemember career readiness through the redesigned TAP.

“For many Servicemembers, TAP is the first encounter they will have with VA,” said Curtis L. Coy, VA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity.

The interagency collaboration improved communication on the topic; better leveraged federal tools, processes and limited resources; and resulted in several enhancements to the transition process, including the following:

A redesigned curriculum that is mandatory for all separating Servicemembers and available to all military spouses

Additional “career tracks” for those wanting to start a business, seeking job-ready skills and those pursuing higher education

Smaller class sizes to provide individual attention

Individual transition plans that are customized to each Servicemember’s personal goals

Completion based on achieving career readiness standards, not simply attendance

The program concludes with a capstone event, verifying that each Servicemember has met career readiness standards and has an actionable individual transition plan.

The enhanced TAP also equips Servicemembers with skills and resources to cope with the stress of separating from the military; how to identify and promote translatable employment skills, training and pre-transition activities to help them obtain meaningful civilian employment; and information on how to capitalize on all the VA benefits earned through their military service. An additional congressional authority called SkillBridge complements TAP by allowing eligible Servicemembers to obtain civilian job skills training from employers beginning up to six months prior to separating from the military.

To further improve transition, an online curriculum was made available to Service members, Veterans, and their families. Participants can access the courses and review the training at their preferred pace. Veterans who transitioned before the enactment of the redesigned TAP can also take advantage of this online curriculum at any time. This curriculum is available here.

President Barack Obama signs the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW to Hire Heroes Act), that provided tax credits to help put Veterans back to work. First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden attend the ceremony in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, Nov. 21, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Since the implementation of the VOW Act:

More than 1 million Servicemembers have transitioned into civilian life

The unemployment rate for Veterans has been reduced by more than half, falling from a high of 9.9 percent in 2011 to 4.3 percent today. In addition, the Post-9/11 Veterans unemployment rate is 4.7 percent today, down from a high of 15.2 in 2011.

VA has deployed more than 300 benefit advisors worldwide to provide information on the benefits and services VA provides

Every year, roughly 200,000 Servicemembers separate, retire or are released from active duty, and we are excited about the progress that has been made in preparing them for success. Moving forward, the agencies will continue to work to ensure Servicemembers, Veterans and their family members are provided the opportunity to fulfill the American dream.